JLR’s masterful reinvention of the Defender proved the doubters wrong and added millions to the automakers’ balance sheet. Now it’s hoping that a baby version powered purely by batteries due in 2027 will enjoy the same success, but it might need some major surgery to fully realize its potential.

The bonsai EV, which will effectively replace the ancient Discovery Sport and could be called the Defender Sport, was spied testing again this week. While the final name might be unclear at this point, what’s under the skin isn’t. The baby SUV’s blanked grille and lack of exhaust pipes tell us its an EV and confirm it’s running on the same EMA electric architecture that will also underpin the upcoming Range Rover Evoque EV.

Also: Shrunken Land Rover Defender Is Coming For The Baby G-Class

It’ll be thoroughly modern platform with 800-volt charging and JLR has invested huge sums to make it happen, including a £500 million ($668 million) refit of its Halewood plant in north west England and the construction of a brand new battery site in the south west.

But with electric sales having failed to take off as expected in key markets like the US, is JLR really prepared to leave sales on the table by failing to offer customers the combustion powertrains many of them still want in their new cars? Could the company change its plans and adapt the EV-only EMA platform to also accept hybrid power?

It wouldn’t be the first automaker to do it. Fiat responded to weak sales of its electric 500e by slotting a 1.0-liter mild-hybrid petrol engine from the discontinued combustion 500 in the nose, and Porsche recently confirmed it would add ICE power hero models to the top of the new 718 EV lineup, and has scrapped plans to make its super-SUV an EV. The pricey utility will now get straight combustion and hybrid engines instead, and Porsche is also building a new ICE Macan to sell alongside the new Macan Electric.

JLR hasn’t made any specific comments about that kind of rethink regarding the EMA platform, but it did announce last year that it, like many other automakers, was taking a more measured pace when it came to electrification than it had planned.

“What you have seen from other OEMs is that the race to BEV is starting to stutter a little,” then-CEO Adrian Mardell said at the time. “PHEV acceptance has been quite a surprise. We are working hard in the interim time to make more PHEVs available to the marketplace.”

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Land Rover is preparing to build on the Defender’s legacy with a new, more compact SUV that trades traditional power for a fully electric setup. Rumored to wear the Defender Sport badge, the model has been caught testing in Europe’s summer heat, showing off a boxy, upright stance that echoes its larger sibling.

More: The Company That Owns Land Rover Is Making A Baby Defender Of Its Own

We first caught a prototype example of the SUV last April, but these latest images give a clearer sense of its shape and detailing. Up front, the design leans more toward the Range Rover side of the family tree, with slim horizontal LED headlights, a closed-off grille, a sturdy bumper, and a flat hood that emphasize its modern yet purposeful look.

Distinctive Proportions

The profile features the characteristic curved shoulders of the Defender leading to an upright tail. The flat roof and the boxy rear end will certainly help with practicality, especially when compared to sleeker crossovers. It will also help the Defender Sport distinguish itself from the sea of similarly-sized SUVs that have flooded the market.

Other highlights include the flush door handles and the five-spoke alloy wheels that look quite large for the size of the vehicle, nicely filling up the wheel arches. Expect a wraparound greenhouse and and a floating roof with bi-tone options. The company could also offer a range of optional accessories, making the baby Defender more suitable for all kinds of adventures.

SH Proshots

Electric Underpinnings

The camouflage wrap doesn’t have any openings for cooling intakes up front and there’s no visible exhaust pipe at the back. This all but confirms earlier rumors about a zero emission powertrain. It will most likely comprise dual electric motors with advanced AWD capabilities in order to stay true to Land Rover’s off-road heritage.

More: Land Rover’s New Velar Trades V8 Roar For Electric Muscle

The Defender Sport is expected to ride on JLR’s EMA platform and feature an 800-volt electrical architecture and 350 kW fast-charging capabilities. Land Rover is planning on building its future electric SUVs at the Halewood plant in England, sourcing battery packs from its Somerset facility.

The new member of the Defender family is expected to hit the roads in 2027, but could be unveiled towards the end of 2026. Its biggest rival will be the upcoming baby G-Class by Mercedes-Benz, which is also expected to arrive in 2027.

Both SUVs will feature rugged styling, compact footprints, and EV tech, although the Mercedes might also offer a hybrid option following the sales flop of the electric G-Wagen.

The market for premium all-electric SUVs is continuing to swell and with BMW, Mercedes, and Audi already selling multiple, the folks over at Jaguar Land Rover simply had to respond. In addition to working on an electric version of the full-sized Range Rover, the smaller Range Rover Velar is getting an electric overhaul and it’s already being tested on the Nurburgring.

This prototype may be covered in camouflage, but it’s clear that the overall shape of the Velar EV will be similar to the existing ICE-powered model. Given that the current model is already quite good-looking, Land Rover (wisely) chose not to mess with its design too much.

As such, the front end looks very familiar, complete with thin headlights and blacked-out areas where the front grille and air intakes sit on the combustion Velar.

Read: The Electric Range Rover Is Getting A Little Brother

It’s unclear whether Land Rover will make any major changes to the SUV’s front end. Since electric vehicles don’t need an engine to cool, a traditional grille and large air intakes are largely unnecessary, yet the prototype suggests a grille of some sort will remain, likely a solid black panel. At the center sits a small forward-facing camera, used by the vehicle’s safety and driver-assist systems.

There’s also some interesting stuff going on with the rear half of the prototype. There are some lumps and bumps around the C- and D-pillars, but we expect a more refined rear for the production model.

Powertrain Predictions

Little is known about the EV’s powertrain. We know the larger Range Rover EV will have a massive 117 kWh battery pack, but that’s far too big for the smaller Velar. Instead, something in the range of 85 – 100 kWh seems more likely.

It’s also safe to assume it’ll utilize two electric motors in order to sport all-wheel drive. There’s even a possibility it could out-muscle the current SVAutobiography Dynamic, which uses a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 and has 542 hp and 502 lb-ft (681 Nm).

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